--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He that floats lazily down the stream, in…" description: "\"He that floats lazily down the stream, in pursuit of something borne along by the same current, will find himself indeed moved forward; but unless he l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/samuel-johnson-50_currents_he-that-floats-lazily-down-the-stream-in_1754128.png" --- # He that floats lazily down the stream, in pursuit of… ![“He that floats lazily down the stream, in pursuit of something borne along by the same current, will find himself indeed moved forward; but unless he lays his hand to the oar, and increases his speed by his own labour, must be always at the same distance from that which he is following.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/samuel-johnson-50_currents_he-that-floats-lazily-down-the-stream-in_1754128.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/samuel-johnson-50_currents_he-that-floats-lazily-down-the-stream-in_1754128.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/samuel-johnson-50_currents_he-that-floats-lazily-down-the-stream-in_1754128.png) > “He that floats lazily down the stream, in pursuit of something borne along by the same current, will find himself indeed moved forward; but unless he lays his hand to the oar, and increases his speed by his own labour, must be always at the same distance from that which he is following.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on external forces moves you, but without personal effort you stay at the same distance from your goals. **In simple terms:** You need effort to progress, not just drift. Key Takeaway Actively work toward goals. Themes effort self‑reliance progress Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal projects - learning new skills - physical training Key Concepts agency self‑determination initiative Questions to Reflect On - What effort are you avoiding? - How can you take control of your direction? A Different Perspective If you only follow others, you may never surpass them. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Currents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currents/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Floats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floats/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [Forward Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward-unless-1632504/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Increase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Lays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lays/) [Moved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moved/) [Oar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oar/) [Oar Increases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oar-increases-1632506/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Stream Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stream-pursuit-1632505/) [Streams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streams/) ## Related quotes > [Be free, because life will never move forward unless you let go of what isn't meant to be and go forth to follow your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-free-because-life-will-never-move-forward-unless-you-let-go-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This country is never going to move forward unless we end Republican rule in the House and Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/this-country-is-never-going-to-move-forward-unless-we-end-republican/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I thought when I became a Christian I had nothing to do but just to lay my oars in the bottom of the boat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/i-thought-when-i-became-a-christian-i-had-nothing-to-do-but-just-to/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [He that embarks on the voyage of life will always wish to advance rather by the impulse of the wind than the strokes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-that-embarks-on-the-voyage-of-life-will-always-wish-to-advance/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You think I love flattery (says Dr. Johnson), and so I do; but a little too much always disgusts me: that fellow Richardson, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-think-i-love-flattery-says-dr-johnson-and-so-i-do-but-a-little/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A beautiful woman without fixed principles may be likened to those fair but rootless flowers which float in streams, driven by every breeze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/a-beautiful-woman-without-fixed-principles-may-be-likened-to-those/) [Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/) > [All life is an experiment. 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From Marlborough's eyes the streams of dotage flow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/in-life-s-last-scene-what-prodigies-surprise-fears-of-the-brave-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Never rest on your oars as a boss. If you do, the whole company starts sinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/never-rest-on-your-oars-as-a-boss-if-you-do-the-whole-company-starts/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [To follow the drops sliding from a lifting oar, Head up, while the rower breathes, and the small boat drifts quietly shoreward...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roethke/to-follow-the-drops-sliding-from-a-lifting-oar-head-up-while-the/) [Theodore Roethke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roethke/) > [All in the golden afternoon Full leisurely we glide; For both our oars, with little skill, By little arms are plied, While little hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/all-in-the-golden-afternoon-full-leisurely-we-glide-for-both-our-oars/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [The masses do not see the Sirens. They do not hear songs in the air. 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Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. 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You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [I take the seashell from my jeans pocket and rub my fingers across its silken, indented surface, shallow as my own open hand. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kenison/i-take-the-seashell-from-my-jeans-pocket-and-rub-my-fingers-across/) [Katrina Kenison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kenison/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/) [Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/) > [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [The seed of your next artwork lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/the-seed-of-your-next-artwork-lies-embedded-in-the-imperfections-of/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/) [Frank H. 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